Condition: Very Good
Maker: Wernstein
Base Material: Zinc
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Product Description: This Wiedmann General Assault Badge is a nice, maker marked badge. It’s made of zinc. The obverse is beautiful, with virtually all of the original silver finish intact. It shows no evident wear, and only extremely slight age toning to the finish. All of the crisp original detail is intact. The reverse of this badge is flat and smooth, and is also with full original finish. The pin is unfortunately missing, a result of the solder joint at the top of the pin having broken. The sheet metal hinge and catch are both intact, and held in place with the original factory solder. The back of the badge is neatly stamped with the stylized “ÜÜ” maker mark that has been attributed to the firm of E. Ferd. Wiedmann in Frankfurt/Main. Despite the missing pin, this Wiedmann General Assault Badge remains very attractive, with outstanding finish. The condition rates as very good.
Historical Description: The German General Assault Badge was instituted on June 1, 1940. When the first Heer (Army) combat badges were instituted, they only recognized those in the Infantry and Panzer (Tank) units. This left the supporting elements of the German Army without an award to recognize their combat achievements. Initially the General Assault Badge was intended for Combat Engineer units, but later this was expanded to include other units such as Panzerjäger’s (Tank Hunters), Cavalry Units, down to Medical Personnel who assisted the Infantry or Panzers during combat engagements. Eligibility also continued to grow to include members of the Luftwaffe (Air Force), Kreigsmarine (Navy), Waffen-SS, and Combat Police units.
The requirements for the General Assault Badge were the same as that of the Infantry Assault Badge and the Panzer Assault Badge. The soldier must have taken part in three combat assaults on three separate days. Three assaults in one day would only count as one assault. Before the institution of the Tank Destruction Strip, awarded to soldiers who destroyed a tank by means of explosives or mine, the single-handed destruction of an enemy tank would also earn the soldier the General Assault Badge.
The Standard General Assault Badge consists of an Oakleaves wreath surrounding a large National Eagle grasping the swastika with crossed bayonet and stick grenade underneath. The General Assault Badge can be found in several different base metals such as Brass, Copper Coated Aluminum, Copper Coated Zinc, and Zinc. The use of the different types of base metal was directly impacted by the war as it progressed. Shortages forced manufacturers to switch from quality base metals like brass to lower quality base metals like zinc.
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